Rain

May 15, 2014
Following Ink (2013), Katie and Tomohiro, a Kami (descendant of a Japanese god), cope with the danger he poses to her.Katie and Tomo's hopes that they can finally be together are dashed when the ink he holds mastery over dramatically malfunctions. Tomo's powerful, moving, living sketches are dangerous (especially for Katie), so for the sake of their relationship and her safety, they struggle to learn how to control them. Katie researches both Tomo's struggles and her own connection to the ink by secretly meeting former adversary Jun; Tomo disapproves of their friendship and cannot know. The plot delivers Katie's answers easily, deploying just a few twists at the end. More interestingly, since Jun and Ishikawa ended up in the hospital at the end of Ink, police suspect the two kendo adepts have fallen afoul of a Yakuza gambling plot and so have their eye on fellow kendouka Tomo; the heroes must keep the true supernatural explanations secret. The least magical plot is perhaps the strongest-Katie's determined to learn kanji in order to avoid transfer to an English-speaking school, all the while coping with her outsider status. The lovingly drawn depiction of Japan will make readers want to visit. The conclusion, rushed compared to the otherwise leisurely pacing, sets up the sequel.Weak, formulaic romantic and supernatural plots are offset by rich, setting-driven subplots. (Japanese glossary, acknowledgments) (Paranormal romance. 12-17)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-This sequel to Ink (Harlequin Teen, 2013) picks up where the first volume left off, with American transplant Katie Greene having decided to stay in Shizuoka, Japan, even though it poses serious risk to herself and her boyfriend, Tomohiro. His divine ancestry gives him the power to create sketches that come to life, and Katie's presence heightens this ability-which is quickly growing beyond his control. As their relationship intensifies and Tomohiro grapples with his expanding powers, the couple faces danger from all sides, including the ancient gods of Japan, the Yakuza, and the local police. Katie also faces the very realistic pressures of fitting into Japanese society as a foreigner, navigating traditional gender roles, and memorizing endless amounts of kanji. The story is grounded by a vivid sense of place, opening with the lively atmosphere of a summer festival and taking readers through the ornate beauty of one of Shizuoka's most famous shrines. The author weaves Shinto deities and historical figures like shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa into her version of Japan's mythology, enriching the story with cultural details that set it apart from run-of-the-mill paranormal romance. Like its predecessor, the plot is slow to pick up, but the final third of the book is hard to put aside once the story gains momentum. Expressive ink drawings appear throughout, representing Tomohiro's sketches, and a glossary is included to explain the Japanese dialogue sprinkled throughout the text. Those who enjoyed the first volume will be well satisfied with this one.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

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